Shirke

 ( Maratha Clans ) 

The Shirke is a clan (Gotra) found in several castes such as Koli people,

Maratha, Agri, found largely in Maharashtra and bordering states of India.

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History The Shirke clan held rights in the areas of coastal Konkan in present day state of Maharashtra and some inland areas of Western Maharashtra during 15th century under the Bahamani Sultanate and in 16th and 17th century under the successor Deccan sultanates of Adilshahi and Nizamshahi. During the Bahamani era, the seat of Shirke fief was at Khelna (Vishalgad).

Shanti Sadiq Ali (1996). 9788125004851, Orient Blackswan. . ISBN 9788125004851

The Shirkes intermarried with the and kept command over their regions. In the mid 17th century, Shivaji, the founder of Maratha empire got the Surve and Shirke to join him by force or by forming marital alliances.

The Shirkes were relatives of Bhosale rulers such as Shahaji, Shivaji, Sambhaji, Rajaram and Shahu I. Although Sambhaji's wife, Yesubai came from the Shirke family, his positions were spied upon. Sambhaji and 25 of his advisors were captured by the Mughal forces of Muqarrab Khan in a skirmish at Sangameshwar in February 1689.

Shahu married Sakwarbai from the Shirke family. Just like Tarabai, she was an ambitious lady and acted as an advisor to her husband. In the 1740s she had to fight both the Peshwa, and Tarabai for influence at the court.After Shahu's death in 1749, she was forced to commit sati under pressure from the peshwa, Tarabai and her own brother, Kuwarjee Shirke.Vaidya, S. “ROLE OF SAKWARBAI & SAGUNABAI-QUEENS OF SHAHU IN MARATHA HISTORY 1730-49.” Proceedings of the Indian History Congress, vol. 28, 1966, pp. 311–18. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/44140447. Accessed 31 May 2024.

The Shirke were relations and confidantes of the Raja Pratapsinha of the short lived Satara state. He also sent a member of the Shirke family to London to plead his case of restoring him to power in 1839.

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See also

• Maratha clan system
• List of Maratha dynasties and states
• Bhonsle (clan)
• Gaekwad
• House of Scindia
• Parmar (clan)
• Holkar
• Peshwa

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Bibliography

• Stewart Gordon (2025). 9780521033169, Cambridge University Press. . ISBN 9780521033169

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Further reading

• S.R. Bakshi (2003). 9788174880284, Anmol Publications PVT. LTD.. . ISBN 9788174880284

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